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Romans； and therefore he bestowed some few days in hunting lions and
elephants。 And it is said that it was not above the space of forty
days at the utmost in which he gave a total overthrow to the enemy；
reduced Africa； and established the affairs of the kings and
kingdoms of all that country； being then in the twenty…fourth year
of his age。
When Pompey returned back to the city of Utica； there were presented
to him letters and orders from Sylla； commanding him to disband the
rest of his army； and himself with one legion only to wait there the
coming of another general； to succeed him in the government。 This；
inwardly； was extremely grievous to Pompey； though he made no show
of it。 But the army resented it openly； and when Pompey besought
them to depart and go home before him； they began to revile Sylla； and
declared broadly that they were resolved not to forsake him； neither
did they think it safe for him to trust the tyrant。 Pompey at first
endeavoured to appease and pacify them by fair speeches； but when he
saw that his persuasions were vain； he left the bench； and retired
to his tent with tears in his eyes。 But the soldiers followed him； and
seizing upon him； by force brought him again； and placed him in his
tribunal； where great part of that day was spent in dispute； they on
their part persuading him to stay and command them； he； on the other
side； pressing upon them obedience and the danger of mutiny。 At
last； when they grew yet more importunate and clamorous； he swore that
he would kill himself if they attempted to force him； and scarcely
even thus appeased them。 Nevertheless； the first tidings brought to
Sylla were that Pompey was up in rebellion； on which he remarked to
some of his friends； 〃I see； then； it is my destiny to contend with
children in my old age；〃 alluding at the same time to Marius； who；
being but a mere youth； had given him great trouble； and brought him
into extreme danger。 But being undeceived afterwards by better
intelligence； and finding the whole city prepared to meet Pompey；
and receive him with every display of kindness and honour； he resolved
to exceed them all。 And； therefore； going out foremost to meet him and
embracing him with great cordiality； he gave him his welcome aloud
in the title of Magnus； or the Great； and bade all that were present
call him by that name。 Others say that he had this title first given
him by a general acclamation of all the army in Africa； but that it
was fixed upon him by this ratification of Sylla。 It is certain that
he himself was the last that owned the title； for it was a long time
after； when he was sent proconsul into Spain against Sertorius； that
he began to write himself in his letters and commissions by the name
of Pompeius Magnus； common and familiar use having then worn off the
invidiousness of the title。 And one cannot but accord respect and
admiration to the ancient Romans； who did not reward the successes
of action and conduct in war alone with such honourable titles； but
adorned likewise the virtue and services of eminent men in civil
government with the same distinctions and marks of honour。 Two persons
received from the people the name of Maximus； or the Greatest；
Valerius for reconciling the senate and people； and Fabius Rullus；
because he put out of the senate certain sons of freed slaves who
had been admitted into it because of their wealth。
Pompey now desired the honour of a triumph； which Sylla opposed；
alleging that the law allowed that honour to none but consuls and
praetors； and therefore Scipio the elder； who subdued the
Carthaginians in Spain in far greater and nobler conflicts； never
petitioned for a triumph； because he had never been consul or praetor；
and if Pompey； who had scarcely yet fully grown a beard； and was not
of age to be a senator； should enter the city in triumph； what a
weight of envy would it bring； he said； at once upon his government
and Pompey's honour。 This was his language to Pompey； intimating
that he could not by any means yield to his request； but if he would
persist in his ambition； that he was resolved to interpose his power
to humble him。 Pompey； however； was not daunted； but bade Sylla
recollect that more worshipped the rising than the setting sun； as
if to tell him that his power was increasing and Sylla's in the
wane。 Sylla did not perfectly hear the words； but observing a sort
of amazement and wonder in the looks and gestures of those that did
hear them； he asked what it was that he said。 When it was told him； he
seemed astounded at Pompey's boldness； and cried out twice together；
〃Let him triumph；〃 and when others began to show their
disapprobation and offence at it； Pompey； it is said； to gall and
vex them the more； designed to have his triumphant chariot drawn
with four elephants （having brought over several which belonged to the
African kings）； but the gates of the city being too narrow； he was
forced to desist from that project； and be content with horses。 And
when his soldiers； who had not received as large rewards as they had
expected； began to clamour； and interrupt the triumph； Pompey regarded
these as little as the rest； and plainly told them that he had
rather lose the honour of his triumph than flatter them。 Upon which
Servilius； a man of great distinction； and at first one of the chief
opposers of Pompey's triumph； said； he now perceived that Pompey was
truly great and worthy of a triumph。 It is clear that he might
easily have been a senator； also； if he had wished； but he did not sue
for that； being ambitious； it seems； only of unusual honours。 For what
wonder had it been for Pompey to sit in the senate before his time？
But to triumph before he was in the senate was really an excess of
glory。
And； moreover； it did not a little ingratiate him with the people；
who were much pleased to see him after his triumph take his place
again among the Roman knights。 On the other side； it was no less
distasteful to Sylla to see how fast he came on； and to what a
height of glory and power he was advancing； yet being ashamed to
hinder him； he kept quiet。 But when； against his direct wishes； Pompey
got Lepidus made consul； having openly joined in the canvass and； by
the good…will the people felt for himself； conciliated their favour
for Lepidus； Sylla could forbear no longer； but when he saw him coming
away from the election through the forum with a great train after him；
cried out to him； 〃Well； young man； I see you rejoice in your victory。
And； indeed； is it not a most generous and worthy act； that the
consulship should be given to Lepidus； the vilest of men； in
preference to Catulus； the best and most deserving in the city； and
all by your influence with the people？ It will be well； however； for
you to be wakeful and look to your interests； as you have been
making your enemy stronger than yourself。〃 But that which gave the
clearest demonstration of Sylla's ill…will to Pompey was his last will
and testament； for whereas he bequeathed several legacies to all the
rest of his friends； and appointed some of them guardians to his
son； he passed by Pompey without the least remembrance。 However；
Pompey bore this with great moderation and temper； and when Lepidus
and others were disposed to obstruct his interment in the Campus
Martius； and to prevent any public funeral taking place； came
forward in support of it； and saw his obsequies performed with all
honour and security。
Shortly after the death of Sylla； his prophetic words were
fulfilled； and Lepidus proposing to be the successor to all his
power and authority； without any ambiguities or pretences； immediately
appeared in arms； rousing once more and gathering about him all the
long dangerous remains of the old factions； which had escaped the hand
of Sylla。 Catulus； his colleague； who was followed by the sounder part
of the senate and people； was a man of the greatest esteem among the
Romans for wisdom and justice； but his talent lay in the government of
the city rather than the camp； whereas the exigency required the skill
of Pompey。 Pompey； therefore； was not long in suspense which way to
dispose of himself； but joining with the nobility； was presently
appointed general of the army against Lepidus； who had already
raised up war in great part of Italy； and held Cisalpine Gaul in
subjection with an army under Brutus。 As for the rest of his
garrisons； Pompey subdued them with ease in his march； but Mutina in
Gaul resisted in a formal siege； and he lay here a long time
encamped against Brutus。 In the meantime Lepidus marched in all
haste against Rome； and sitting down before it with a crowd of
followers； to the terror of those within； demanded a second
consulship。 But that fear quickly vanished upon letters sent from
Pompey； announcing that he had ended the war without a battle； for
Brutus； either betraying his army； or being betrayed by their
revolt； surrendered himself to Pompey； and receiving a guard of horse；
was conducted to a little town upon the river Po； where he was slain
the next day by Geminius； in execution of Pompey's commands。 And for
this Pompey was much censured； for； having at the beginning of the
revolt written to